'The Phantom' claims NZ corruption will prevent fair trial

Businessman Loizos Michaels was due to stand trial in Auckland two months ago on fraud charges involving $3 million but skipped the country for Australia. Photo / Brett Phibbs

An alleged conman fighting an extradition order to have him sent back to New Zealand will argue that government corruption will prevent him getting a fair trial here, his lawyer says.

Loizos Michaels, 44, who is said to refer to himself as "The Phantom", was due to stand trial in Auckland two months ago on fraud charges involving $3 million but skipped the country for Australia. He was arrested there in February.

Michaels is accused of ripping off some noteworthy people, including rugby superstar Jonah Lomu, whom he allegedly promised to make "the global face of kick boxing".

He is contesting an extradition order to bring him back to New Zealand, claiming he will not get a fair trial here, his lawyer Jim Coburn told NZPA today.

Michaels' defence would be that corruption within the New Zealand Government, and organised crime influences on government officials, could sway the judiciary, he said.

"I'm yet to receive detailed instructions or evidence to substantiate that claim. He assures me it's coming."

The amount of negative press Michaels had been getting in New Zealand could also prejudice a trial here, Mr Coburn said.

In April, Michaels lost an appeal in Southport Magistrates Court on the Gold Coast to have the extradition order overturned.

Magistrate John Costanzo found in relation to the negative publicity that Michaels' position was no different to other cases that regularly came before Australian courts, and brushed aside concerns of adverse publicity, AAP reported.

"The stories refer to a self-styled high-flyer who has a lot of questions to answer and is drawing a lot of publicity to himself by refusing to return to New Zealand," he said.

Michaels will have one last bid to prevent extradition when he appears in Brisbane Supreme Court on June 6, Mr Coburn said.

"Once the authorities know what the outcome of June 6 is they'll make arrangements for him to be moved back to New Zealand and that's when, I'd anticipate, police officers from New Zealand would come here to collect him."

He is in custody at the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre in Queensland.

- NZPA